Kevin Edson, the man arrested and charged for allegedly placing a backpack at the Boston Marathon's finish line Tuesday night, was arraigned in court today. Edson will undergo a mental competency test at Bridgewater State Hospital. Today, his family published a letter in the Boston Globe, apologizing for their son's actions and explaining his mental health.

In the essay, Edson's mother talks about her son's history of mental illnesses, including the fact that her son has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She also criticizes the city's mental health system and the difficulties of properly treating both of her sons. An excerpt:

Our son Kevin has been battling mental issues for several years. His illness has caused himself and our family years of anguish that is unimaginable. His multiple mental health issues, including the diagnosis of BiPolar Disorder, are a constant battle realized by multiple hospitalizations and close psychiatric treatment. Kevin is currently a college student and has not been living at home for several months. Unfortunately his mental health has deteriorated recently.

[...]

Boston is certainly, in many ways, a strong city. The first responders, the runners, the sports teams, the medical community and the citizens are all Boston Strong. What is NOT strong is the mental health system in Boston, our state, our country, and the world. I have two sons who struggle with mental illness and I have had to constantly fight for twelve years to get them the help they need. Advocating for assistance from mental health providers for my sons has been a full-time job.